GLOBAL EQUITY LONG/SHORT MASTER FUND AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
EXHIBIT
(a)(1)
AGREEMENT
AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
Dated as
of August 23, 2010
Page
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ARTICLE 1
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THE
TRUST
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1
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1.1
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Name
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1
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1.2
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Definitions
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1
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1.3
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Business
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3
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1.4
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Contribution
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3
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ARTICLE
2
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TRUSTEES
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3
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2.1
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Number
and Qualification
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3
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2.2
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Term
and Election
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4
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2.3
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Resignation
and Removal
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4
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2.4
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Vacancies
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4
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2.5
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Meetings
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4
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2.6
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Trustee
Action by Written Consent
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5
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2.7
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Officers
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5
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ARTICLE
3
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POWERS
AND DUTIES OF TRUSTEES
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5
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3.1
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General
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5
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3.2
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Investments
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6
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3.3
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Legal
Title
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6
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3.4
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Issuance
and Repurchase of Shares
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6
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3.5
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Borrow
Money or Utilize Leverage
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7
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3.6
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Delegation;
Committees
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7
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3.7
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Collection
and Payment
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7
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3.8
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Expenses
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7
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3.9
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By-Laws
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7
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3.10
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Miscellaneous
Powers
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8
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3.11
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Further
Powers
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8
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ARTICLE
4
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ADVISORY,
MANAGEMENT AND DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS
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8
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4.1
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Advisory
and Management Arrangements
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8
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4.2
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Distribution
Arrangements
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9
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4.3
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Parties
to Contract
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9
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-i-
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
(continued)
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ARTICLE
5
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LIMITATIONS
OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION
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9
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5.1
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No
Personal Liability of Shareholders, Trustees, etc
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9
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5.2
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Mandatory
Indemnification
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10
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5.3
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No
Bond Required of Trustees
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11
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5.4
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No
Duty of Investigation; No Notice in Trust Instruments, etc
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12
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5.5
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Reliance
on Experts, etc
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12
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ARTICLE
6
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SHARES
OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST
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12
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6.1
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Beneficial
Interest
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12
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6.2
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Other
Securities
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12
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6.3
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Rights
of Shareholders
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12
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6.4
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Trust
Only
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13
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6.5
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Issuance
of Shares
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13
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6.6
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Register
of Shares
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13
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6.7
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Transfer
Agent and Xxxxxxxxx
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00
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6.8
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Transfer
of Shares
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13
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6.9
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Notices
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14
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ARTICLE
7
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DETERMINATION
OF NET ASSET VALUE
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14
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7.1
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Net
Asset Value
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14
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7.2
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Power
to Modify Foregoing Procedures
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14
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ARTICLE
8
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CUSTODIANS
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14
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8.1
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Appointment
and Duties
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14
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8.2
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Central
Certificate System
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15
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ARTICLE
9
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TRANSFERS
AND REPURCHASES
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15
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9.1
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Transfer
of Shares
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15
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9.2
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Repurchase
of Shares
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16
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ARTICLE 10
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SHAREHOLDERS
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19
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10.1
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Meetings
of Shareholders
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19
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10.2
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Voting
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19
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10.3
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Notice
of Meeting and Record Date
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19
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10.4
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Quorum
and Required Vote
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19
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-ii-
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
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10.5
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Proxies,
etc
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20
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10.6
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Inspection
of Records
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20
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10.7
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Shareholder
Action by Written Consent
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20
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ARTICLE
11
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DURATION;
TERMINATION OF TRUST; AMENDMENT; MERGERS; ETC
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20
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11.1
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Duration
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20
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11.2
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Termination
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20
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11.3
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Amendment
Procedure
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21
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11.4
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Merger,
Consolidation and Sale of Assets
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22
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11.5
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Subsidiaries
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22
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11.6
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Certain
Transactions
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22
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ARTICLE
12
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MISCELLANEOUS
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24
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12.1
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Filing
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24
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12.2
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Resident
Agent
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24
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12.3
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Governing
Law
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24
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12.4
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Counterparts
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25
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12.5
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Reliance
by Third Parties
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25
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12.6
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Provisions
in Conflict with Law or Regulation
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25
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-iii-
AGREEMENT
AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
AGREEMENT
AND DECLARATION OF TRUST made as of the 23rd of
August, 2010, by the Trustees hereunder.
WHEREAS,
this Trust has been formed to carry on business as set forth more particularly
hereinafter;
WHEREAS,
this Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of its shares of
beneficial interest all in accordance with the provisions hereinafter set
forth;
WHEREAS,
the Trustees have agreed to manage all property coming into their hands as
Trustees of a Delaware statutory trust in accordance with the provisions
hereinafter set forth; and
WHEREAS,
the parties hereto intend that the Trust created by this declaration and the
Certificate of Trust dated August 16, 2010 and filed with the Secretary of State
of the State of Delaware shall constitute a statutory trust under the Delaware
Statutory Trust Act and that this Declaration shall constitute the governing
instrument of such statutory trust.
NOW,
THEREFORE, the Trustees hereby declare that they will hold all cash, securities
and other assets, which they may from time to time acquire in any manner as
Trustees hereunder IN TRUST to manage and dispose of the same upon the following
terms and conditions for the benefit of the holders from time to time of shares
of beneficial interest in this Trust as hereinafter set forth.
ARTICLE
1
THE
TRUST
1.1 Name. This
Trust shall be known as the “Global Equity Long/Short Master Fund” and the
Trustees shall conduct the business of the Trust under that name or any other
name or names as they may from time to time determine.
1.2 Definitions. As
used in this Declaration, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
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(a)
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The
“1940 Act”
refers to the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder and exemptions granted therefrom, as amended from
time to time.
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(b)
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“Adviser” shall mean
Xxxxxx Creek Capital Management LLC and any successor entities and any
entity serving as investment adviser to this Trust in the
future.
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(c)
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The
terms “Affiliated Person,”
“Assignment,”
“Commission,”
“Interested
Person” and “Principal
Underwriter” shall have the meanings given them in the 1940
Act.
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(d)
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“By-Laws” shall mean
the By-Laws of the Trust as amended from time to time by the
Trustees.
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(e)
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“Certificate of
Trust” shall mean the certificate of trust filed by this Trust with
the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on August 16, 2010, as
amended from time to time.
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(f)
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“Closing Date” means
the initial closing date on which the Trust accepts Capital Contributions
from one or more Shareholders (other than Xxxxxx Creek affiliates) and
issues Shares in consideration
therefor.
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(g)
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“Code” shall mean the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations promulgated
thereunder.
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(h)
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“Commission” shall
mean the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
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(i)
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“Declaration” shall
mean this Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended, supplemented or
amended and restated from time to
time.
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(j)
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(k)
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(l)
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“Fiscal
Year” means the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the
following March 31, and thereafter each period commencing on
April 1 of each year and ending on March 31 of that year (or on
the date of a final distribution made in accordance with Section 12.2
of this Declaration), unless the Trustees designate another fiscal year
for the Trust. The taxable year of the Trust will end on March 31 of
each year, or on any other date designated by the Trustees that is a
permitted taxable year-end for tax purposes, and need not be the same as
the Fiscal Year.
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(m)
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“Fundamental
Policies” shall mean the investment policies and restrictions as set forth
from time to time in any Registration Statement of the Trust filed with
the Commission and designated as fundamental policies therein, as they may
be amended from time to time in accordance with the requirements of the
1940 Act.
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(n)
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“Majority
Shareholder Vote” shall mean a vote of “a majority of the outstanding
voting securities” (as such term is defined in the 0000 Xxx) of the Trust
with Shares voting together as a single
class.
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(o)
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“Person”
shall mean and include individuals, corporations, partnerships, trusts,
limited liability companies, associations, joint ventures and other
entities, whether or not legal entities, and governments and agencies and
political subdivisions thereof.
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2
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(p)
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“Shareholders”
shall mean as of any particular time the holders of record of outstanding
Shares of the Trust, at such time.
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(q)
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“Shares”
shall mean the transferable units of beneficial interest into which the
beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided from time to time and
includes fractions of Shares as well as whole
Shares.
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(r)
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“Transfer”
means the assignment, transfer, sale or other disposition of any Shares,
including any right to receive any allocations and distributions
attributable to Shares. Verbs, participles or adjectives such as
“Transfer,” “Transferred” and “Transferring” have correlative
meanings.
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(s)
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“Trust”
shall mean the trust established by the Certificate of Trust, as amended
from time to time, inclusive of each such
amendment.
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(t)
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“Trust
Property” shall mean as of any particular time any and all property, real
or personal, tangible or intangible, which at such time is owned or held
by or for the account of the Trust or the Trustees in such
capacity.
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(u)
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“Trustees”
shall mean the signatories to this Declaration, so long as they shall
continue in office in accordance with the terms hereof, and all other
persons who at the time in question have been duly elected or appointed
and have qualified as trustees in accordance with the provisions hereof
and are then in office.
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1.3 Business. The
business of the Trust is, to purchase, sell, invest, and trade in Securities, on
margin or otherwise and to engage in any financial or derivative transactions
relating thereto or otherwise. The Trust may sell its Shares to
pooled investment vehicles which invest, as feeder funds, all of their assets,
directly or indirectly, in the Trust, as part of a master-feeder fund structure,
and to other investors. The Trust may execute, deliver, and perform all
contracts, agreements, subscription documents, and other undertakings and engage
in all activities and transactions as may in the opinion of the Trustees be
necessary or advisable to carry out its objective or business. The
Trust shall operate as a closed-end, non-diversified, management investment
company in accordance with the 1940 Act and subject to any fundamental policies
and investment restrictions as may be adopted by the Board.
1.4 Contribution. The initial
contribution of capital to the Trust shall be represented by Shares, which
Shares shall have the same rights as other Shares held by
Shareholders.
ARTICLE
2
TRUSTEES
2.1 Number and
Qualification. Prior to a public offering of Shares there may
be a sole Trustee. Thereafter, the number of Trustees shall be determined by a
written instrument signed by a majority of the Trustees then office, provided
that the number of Trustees shall be no less than three or more than thirteen.
No reduction in the number of Trustees shall have the effect of removing any
Trustee from office prior to the expiration of his term. An individual nominated
as a Trustee shall be at least 21 years of age and not older than
72 years of age at the time of nomination and not under legal disability.
Trustees need not own Shares and may succeed themselves in office.
3
2.2 Term and
Election. The term of office of a Trustee shall continue until
death, resignation, removal, bankruptcy, adjudicated incompetence or other
incapacity to perform the duties of the office, or removal, of a Trustee.
Subject to the provisions of the 1940 Act, the Trustees at any time may elect
Trustees to fill vacancies in the number of Trustees. Each Trustee elected shall
hold office until his or her successor shall have been elected and shall have
qualified.
2.3 Resignation and
Removal. Any of the Trustees may resign their trustee position
(without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing
signed by such Trustee and delivered or mailed to the Trustees or the Chairman
(if any) the President or the Secretary and such resignation shall be effective
upon such delivery, or at a later date according to the terms of the instrument.
Any of the Trustees may be removed (provided the aggregate number of Trustees
after such removal shall not be less than the minimum number required by
Section 2.1 hereof) for cause only, and not without cause, and only by
action taken by a majority of the remaining Trustees followed by the holders of
at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the Shares then entitled to vote in
an election of such Trustee. Upon the resignation or removal of a Trustee, each
such resigning or removed Trustee shall execute and deliver such documents as
the remaining Trustees shall require for the purpose of conveying to the Trust
or the remaining Trustees any Trust Property held in the name of such resigning
or removed Trustee. Upon the incapacity or death of any Trustee, such Trustee’s
legal representative shall execute and deliver on such Trustee’s behalf such
documents as the remaining Trustees shall require as provided in the preceding
sentence.
2.4 Vacancies. Whenever
a vacancy in the Board of Trustees shall occur, the remaining Trustees may fill
such vacancy by appointing an individual having the qualifications described in
this Article by a written instrument signed by a majority of the Trustees then
in office or may leave such vacancy unfilled or may reduce the number of
Trustees; provided the aggregate number of Trustees after such reduction shall
not be less than the minimum number required by Section 2.1 hereof. Any
vacancy created by an increase in Trustees may be filled by the appointment of
an individual having the qualifications described in this Article made by a
written instrument signed by a majority of the Trustees then in office. No
vacancy shall operate to annul this Declaration or to revoke any existing agency
created pursuant to the terms of this Declaration. Whenever a vacancy in the
number of Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled as provided herein,
the Trustees in office, regardless of their number, shall have all the powers
granted to the Trustees and shall discharge all the duties imposed upon the
Trustees by this Declaration.
2.5 Meetings. Meetings
of the Trustees shall be held from time to time upon the call of the Chairman,
if any, or the President or any two Trustees. Regular meetings of the Trustees
may be held without call or notice at a time and place fixed by the By-Laws or
by resolution of the Trustees. Notice of any other meeting shall be given by the
Secretary and shall be delivered to the Trustees orally not less than 24 hours,
or in writing not less than 72 hours, before the meeting, but may be waived in
writing by any Trustee either before or after such meeting. The attendance of a
Trustee at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting except
where a Trustee attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the
transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting has not been properly
called or convened. Any time there is more than one Trustee, a quorum for all
meetings of the Trustees shall be one-third, but not less than two, of the
Trustees. Unless provided otherwise in this Declaration and except as required
under the 1940 Act, any action of the Trustees may be taken at a meeting by vote
of a majority of the Trustees present (a quorum being present) or without a
meeting by written consent of a majority of the Trustees.
4
Any
committee of the Trustees, including an executive committee, if any, may act
with or without a meeting. A quorum for all meetings of any such committee shall
be one-third, but not less than two, of the members thereof. Unless provided
otherwise in this Declaration, any action of any such committee may be taken at
a meeting by vote of a majority of the members present (a quorum being present)
or without a meeting by written consent of all of the members.
With
respect to actions of the Trustees and any committee of the Trustees, Trustees
who are Interested Persons in any action to be taken may be counted for quorum
purposes under this Section and shall be entitled to vote to the extent not
prohibited by the 1940 Act.
All or
any one or more Trustees may participate in a meeting of the Trustees or any
committee thereof by means of a conference telephone or similar communications
equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear
each other; participation in a meeting pursuant to any such communications
system shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
2.6 Trustee Action by Written
Consent. Any action which may be taken by Trustees by vote may
be taken without a meeting if that number of the Trustees, or members of a
committee, as the case may be, required for approval of such action at a meeting
of the Trustees or of such committee consent to the action in writing and the
written consents are filed with the records of the meetings of Trustees. Such
consent shall be treated for all purposes as a vote taken at a meeting of
Trustees.
2.7 Officers. The
Trustees shall elect a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer and may elect a
Chairman who shall serve at the pleasure of the Trustees or until their
successors are elected. The Trustees may elect or appoint or may authorize the
Chairman, if any, or President to appoint such other officers or agents with
such powers as the Trustees may deem to be advisable. A Chairman shall, and the
President, Secretary and Treasurer may, but need not, be a Trustee.
ARTICLE
3
POWERS AND DUTIES OF
TRUSTEES
3.1 General. The
Trustees shall owe to the Trust and its Shareholders the same fiduciary duties
as owed by directors of corporations to such corporations and their stockholders
under the Delaware General Corporation Law. The Trustees shall have exclusive
and absolute control over the Trust Property and over the business of the Trust
to the same extent as if the Trustees were the sole owners of the Trust Property
and business in their own right, but with such powers of delegation as may be
permitted by this Declaration. The Trustees may perform such acts as in their
sole discretion are proper for conducting the business of the Trust. The
enumeration of any specific power herein shall not be construed as limiting the
aforesaid power. Such powers of the Trustees may be exercised without order of
or resort to any court.
5
3.2 Investments. The
Trustees shall have power, subject to the Fundamental Policies in effect from
time to time with respect to the Trust to:
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(a)
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manage,
conduct, operate and carry on the business of an investment company;
and
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(b)
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subscribe
for, invest in, reinvest in, purchase or otherwise acquire, hold, pledge,
sell, assign, transfer, exchange, distribute or otherwise deal in or
dispose of any and all sorts of property, tangible or intangible,
including but not limited to securities of any type whatsoever, whether
equity or non-equity, of any issuer, evidences of indebtedness of any
person and any other rights, interests, instruments or property of any
sort and to exercise any and all rights, powers and privileges of
ownership or interest in respect of any and all such investments of every
kind and description, including, without limitation, the right to consent
and otherwise act with respect thereto, with power to designate one or
more Persons to exercise any of said rights, powers and privileges in
respect of any of said investments. The Trustees shall not be limited by
any law limiting the investments which may be made by
fiduciaries.
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3.3 Legal
Title. Legal title to all the Trust Property shall be vested
in the Trust except that the Trustees shall have power to cause legal title to
any Trust Property to be held by or in the name of one or more of the Trustees,
or in the name of any other Person as nominee, custodian or pledgee, on such
terms as the Trustees may determine, provided that the interest of the Trust
therein is appropriately protected.
The
right, title and interest of the Trustees in the Trust Property shall vest
automatically in each person who may hereafter become a Trustee upon his due
election and qualification. Upon the ceasing of any person to be a Trustee for
any reason, such person shall automatically cease to have any right, title or
interest in any of the Trust Property, and the right, title and interest of such
Trustee in the Trust Property shall vest automatically in the remaining
Trustees. Such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not
conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered.
3.4 Issuance and Repurchase of
Shares. The Trustees shall have the power to issue, sell,
repurchase, redeem, retire, cancel, acquire, hold, resell, reissue, dispose of,
transfer, and otherwise deal in, Shares, including Shares in fractional
denominations, and, subject to the more detailed provisions set forth in
Articles VIII and IX, to apply to any such repurchase, redemption, retirement,
cancellation or acquisition of Shares any funds or property whether capital or
surplus or otherwise, to the full extent now or hereafter permitted corporations
formed under the Delaware General Corporation Law.
6
3.5 Borrow Money or Utilize
Leverage. Subject to the Fundamental Policies in effect from
time to time with respect to the Trust, the Trustees shall have the power to
borrow money or otherwise obtain credit or utilize leverage to the maximum
extent permitted by law or regulation as such may be needed from time to time
and to secure the same by mortgaging, pledging or otherwise subjecting as
security the assets of the Trust, including the lending of portfolio securities,
and to endorse, guarantee, or undertake the performance of any obligation,
contract or engagement of any other person, firm, association or
corporation.
3.6 Delegation;
Committees. The Trustees shall have the power, consistent with
their continuing exclusive authority over the management of the Trust and the
Trust Property, to delegate from time to time to such of their number or to
officers, employees or agents of the Trust the doing of such things, including
any matters set forth in this Declaration, and the execution of such instruments
either in the name of the Trust or the names of the Trustees or otherwise as the
Trustees may deem expedient. The Trustees may designate one or more committees
which shall have all or such lesser portion of the authority of the entire Board
of Trustees as the Trustees shall determine from time to time except to the
extent action by the entire Board of Trustees or particular Trustees is required
by the 0000 Xxx.
3.7 Collection and
Payment. The Trustees shall have power to collect all property
due to the Trust; to pay all claims, including taxes, against the Trust Property
or the Trust, the Trustees or any officer, employee or agent of the Trust; to
prosecute, defend, compromise or abandon any claims relating to the Trust
Property or the Trust, or the Trustees or any officer, employee or agent of the
Trust; to foreclose any security interest securing any obligations, by virtue of
which any property is owed to the Trust; and to enter into releases, agreements
and other instruments. Except to the extent required for a corporation formed
under the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Shareholders shall have no power
to vote as to whether or not a court action, legal proceeding or claim should or
should not be brought or maintained derivatively or as a class action on behalf
of the Trust or the Shareholders.
3.8 Expenses. The
Trustees shall have power to incur and pay out of the assets or income of the
Trust any expenses which in the opinion of the Trustees are necessary or
incidental to carry out any of the purposes of this Declaration, and the
business of the Trust, and to pay reasonable compensation from the funds of the
Trust to themselves as Trustees. The Trustees shall fix the compensation of all
officers, employees and Trustees. The Trustees may pay themselves such
compensation for special services, including legal, underwriting, syndicating
and brokerage services, as they in good faith may deem reasonable and
reimbursement for expenses reasonably incurred by themselves on behalf of the
Trust. The Trustees shall have the power, as frequently as they may determine,
to cause each Shareholder to pay directly, in advance or arrears, for charges of
distribution, of the custodian or transfer, Shareholder servicing or similar
agent, a pro rata amount as defined from time to time by the Trustees, by
setting off such charges due from such Shareholder from declared but unpaid
dividends or distributions owed such Shareholder and/or by reducing the number
of shares in the account of such Shareholder by that number of full and/or
fractional Shares which represents the outstanding amount of such charges due
from such Shareholder.
3.9 By-Laws. The
Trustees shall have the exclusive authority to adopt and from time to time amend
or repeal By-Laws for the conduct of the business of the Trust.
7
3.10 Miscellaneous
Powers. The Trustees shall have the power to: (a) employ
or contract with such Persons as the Trustees may deem desirable for the
transaction of the business of the Trust; (b) enter into joint ventures,
partnerships and any other combinations or associations; (c) purchase, and
pay for out of Trust Property, insurance policies insuring the Shareholders,
Trustees, officers, employees, agents, investment advisors, distributors,
selected dealers or independent contractors of the Trust against all claims
arising by reason of holding any such position or by reason of any action taken
or omitted by any such Person in such capacity, whether or not constituting
negligence, or whether or not the Trust would have the power to indemnify such
Person against such liability; (d) establish pension, profit-sharing, share
purchase, and other retirement, incentive and benefit plans for any Trustees,
officers, employees and agents of the Trust; (e) make donations,
irrespective of benefit to the Trust, for charitable, religious, educational,
scientific, civic or similar purposes; (f) to the extent permitted by law,
indemnify any Person with whom the Trust has dealings, including without
limitation any advisor, administrator, manager, transfer agent, custodian,
distributor or selected dealer, or any other person as the Trustees may see fit
to such extent as the Trustees shall determine; (g) guarantee indebtedness
or contractual obligations of others; (h) determine and change the fiscal
year of the Trust and the method in which its accounts shall be kept; and
(i) adopt a seal for the Trust but the absence of such seal shall not
impair the validity of any instrument executed on behalf of the
Trust.
3.11 Further
Powers. The Trustees shall have the power to conduct the
business of the Trust and carry on its operations in any and all of its branches
and maintain offices both within and without the State of Delaware, in any and
all states of the United States of America, in the District of Columbia, and in
any and all commonwealths, territories, dependencies, colonies, possessions,
agencies or instrumentalities of the United States of America and of foreign
governments, and to do all such other things and execute all such instruments as
they deem necessary, proper or desirable in order to promote the interests of
the Trust although such things are not herein specifically mentioned. Any
determination as to what is in the interests of the Trust made by the Trustees
in good faith shall be conclusive. In construing the provisions of this
Declaration, the presumption shall be in favor of a grant of power to the
Trustees. The Trustees will not be required to obtain any court order to deal
with the Trust Property.
ARTICLE
4
ADVISORY, MANAGEMENT AND
DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS
4.1 Advisory and Management
Arrangements. Subject to the requirements of applicable law as
in effect from time to time, the Trustees may in their discretion from time to
time enter into advisory, administration or management contracts (including, in
each case, one or more sub-advisory, sub-administration or sub-management
contracts) whereby the other party to any such contract shall undertake to
furnish such advisory, administrative and management services with respect to
the Trust as the Trustees shall from time to time consider desirable and all
upon such terms and conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion
determine. Notwithstanding any provisions of this Declaration, the Trustees may
authorize any advisor, administrator or manager (subject to such general or
specific instructions as the Trustees may from time to time adopt) to exercise
any of the powers of the Trustees, including to effect investment transactions
with respect to the assets on behalf of the Trust to the full extent of the
power of the Trustees to effect such transactions or may authorize any officer,
employee or Trustee to effect such transactions pursuant to recommendations of
any such advisor, administrator or manager (and all without further action by
the Trustees). Any such investment transaction shall be deemed to have been
authorized by all of the Trustees.
8
4.2 Distribution
Arrangements. Subject to compliance with the 1940 Act, the
Trustees may retain underwriters and/or selling agents to sell Shares and other
securities of the Trust. The Trustees may in their discretion from time to time
enter into one or more contracts, providing for the sale of securities of the
Trust, whereby the Trust may either agree to sell such securities to the other
party to the contract or appoint such other party its sales agent for such
securities. In either case, the contract shall be on such terms and conditions
as the Trustees may in their discretion determine not inconsistent with the
provisions of this Article IV or the By-Laws; and such contract may also provide
for the repurchase or sale of securities of the Trust by such other party as
principal or as agent of the Trust and may provide that such other party may
enter into selected dealer agreements with registered securities dealers and
brokers and servicing and similar agreements with persons who are not registered
securities dealers to further the purposes of the distribution or repurchase of
the securities of the Trust.
4.3 Parties to
Contract. Any contract of the character described in Sections
4.1 and 4.2 of this Article IV or in Article VIII hereof may be entered into
with any Person, although one or more of the Trustees, officers or employees of
the Trust may be an officer, director, trustee, shareholder, or member of such
other party to the contract, and no such contract shall be invalidated or
rendered voidable by reason of the existence of any such relationship, nor shall
any Person holding such relationship be liable merely by reason of such
relationship for any loss or expense to the Trust under or by reason of said
contract or accountable for any profit realized directly or indirectly
therefrom, provided that the contract when entered into was reasonable and fair
and not inconsistent with the provisions of this Article IV or the By-Laws. The
same Person may be the other party to contracts entered into pursuant to
Sections 4.1 and 4.2 above or Article VIII, and any individual may be
financially interested or otherwise affiliated with Persons who are parties to
any or all of the contracts mentioned in this Section 4.3.
ARTICLE
5
LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY AND
INDEMNIFICATION
5.1 No Personal Liability of
Shareholders, Trustees, etc. No Shareholder of the Trust shall
be subject in such capacity to any personal liability whatsoever to any Person
in connection with Trust Property or the acts, obligations or affairs of the
Trust. Shareholders shall have the same limitation of personal liability as is
extended to stockholders of a private corporation for profit incorporated under
the Delaware General Corporation Law. No Trustee or officer of the Trust shall
be subject in such capacity to any personal liability whatsoever to any Person,
save only liability to the Trust or its Shareholders arising from bad faith,
willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard for his duty to such
Person; and, subject to the foregoing exception, all such Persons shall look
solely to the Trust Property for satisfaction of claims of any nature arising in
connection with the affairs of the Trust. If any Shareholder, Trustee or
officer, as such, of the Trust, is made a party to any suit or proceeding to
enforce any such liability, subject to the foregoing exception, he shall not, on
account thereof, be held to any personal liability. Any repeal or modification
of this Section 5.1 shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a
Trustee or officer of the Trust existing at the time of such repeal or
modification with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to such repeal or
modification.
9
5.2 Mandatory
Indemnification.
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(a)
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The
Trust hereby agrees to indemnify each person who at any time serves as a
Trustee or officer of the Trust (each such person being an “indemnitee”)
against any liabilities and expenses, including amounts paid in
satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and penalties, and
reasonable counsel fees reasonably incurred by such indemnitee in
connection with the defense or disposition of any action, suit or other
proceeding, whether civil or criminal, before any court or administrative
or investigative body in which he may be or may have been involved as a
party or otherwise or with which he may be or may have been threatened,
while acting in any capacity set forth in this Article V by reason of his
having acted in any such capacity, except with respect to any matter as to
which he shall not have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that
his action was in the best interest of the Trust or, in the case of any
criminal proceeding, as to which he shall have had reasonable cause to
believe that the conduct was unlawful, provided, however, that no
indemnitee shall be indemnified hereunder against any liability to any
person or any expense of such indemnitee arising by reason of
(i) willful misfeasance, (ii) bad faith, (iii) gross
negligence, or (iv) reckless disregard of the duties involved in the
conduct of his position (the conduct referred to in such clauses
(i) through (iv) being sometimes referred to herein as
“disabling conduct”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any
action, suit or other proceeding voluntarily prosecuted by any indemnitee
as plaintiff, indemnification shall be mandatory only if the prosecution
of such action, suit or other proceeding by such indemnitee (1) was
authorized by a majority of the Trustees or (2) was instituted by the
indemnitee to enforce his or her rights to indemnification hereunder in a
case in which the indemnitee is found to be entitled to such
indemnification. The rights to indemnification set forth in this
Declaration shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a Trustee
or officer of the Trust and shall inure to the benefit of his or her
heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives. No amendment or
restatement of this Declaration or repeal of any of its provisions shall
limit or eliminate any of the benefits provided to any person who at any
time is or was a Trustee or officer of the Trust or otherwise entitled to
indemnification hereunder in respect of any act or omission that occurred
prior to such amendment, restatement or
repeal.
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(b)
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Notwithstanding
the foregoing, no indemnification shall be made hereunder unless there has
been a determination (i) by a final decision on the merits by a court
or other body of competent jurisdiction before whom the issue of
entitlement to indemnification hereunder was brought that such indemnitee
is entitled to indemnification hereunder or, (ii) in the absence of
such a decision, by (1) a majority vote of a quorum of those Trustees
who are neither “interested persons” of the Trust (as defined in
Section 2(a)(19) of the 0000 Xxx) nor parties to the proceeding
(“Disinterested Non-Party Trustees”), that the indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification hereunder, or (2) if such quorum is not obtainable or
even if obtainable, if such majority so directs, independent legal counsel
in a written opinion concludes that the indemnitee should be entitled to
indemnification hereunder. All determinations to make advance payments in
connection with the expense of defending any proceeding shall be
authorized and made in accordance with the immediately succeeding
paragraph (c) below.
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10
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(c)
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The
Trust shall make advance payments in connection with the expenses of
defending any action with respect to which indemnification might be sought
hereunder if the Trust receives a written affirmation by the indemnitee of
the indemnitee’s good faith belief that the standards of conduct necessary
for indemnification have been met and a written undertaking to reimburse
the Trust unless it is subsequently determined that the indemnitee is
entitled to such indemnification and if a majority of the Trustees
determine that the applicable standards of conduct necessary for
indemnification appear to have been met. In addition, at least one of the
following conditions must be met: (i) the indemnitee shall provide
adequate security for his undertaking, (ii) the Trust shall be
insured against losses arising by reason of any lawful advances, or
(iii) a majority of a quorum of the Disinterested Non-Party Trustees,
or if a majority vote of such quorum so direct, independent legal counsel
in a written opinion, shall conclude, based on a review of readily
available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that there is
substantial reason to believe that the indemnitee ultimately will be found
entitled to indemnification.
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(d)
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The
rights accruing to any indemnitee under these provisions shall not exclude
any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under this
Declaration, the By-Laws of the Trust, any statute, agreement, vote of
Shareholders or Trustees who are not “interested persons” (as defined in
Section 2(a)(19) of the 0000 Xxx) or any other right to which he or
she may be lawfully entitled.
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(e)
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Subject
to any limitations provided by the 1940 Act and this Declaration, the
Trust shall have the power and authority to indemnify and provide for the
advance payment of expenses to employees, agents and other Persons
providing services to the Trust or serving in any capacity at the request
of the Trust to the full extent corporations organized under the Delaware
General Corporation Law may indemnify or provide for the advance payment
of expenses for such Persons, provided that such indemnification has been
approved by a majority of the
Trustees.
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5.3 No Bond Required of
Trustees. No Trustee shall, as such, be obligated to give any
bond or other security for the performance of any of his duties
hereunder.
11
5.4 No Duty of Investigation; No
Notice in Trust Instruments, etc. No purchaser, lender,
transfer agent or other person dealing with the Trustees or with any officer,
employee or agent of the Trust shall be bound to make any inquiry concerning the
validity of any transaction purporting to be made by the Trustees or by said
officer, employee or agent or be liable for the application of money or property
paid, loaned, or delivered to or on the order of the Trustees or of said
officer, employee or agent. Every obligation, contract, undertaking, instrument,
certificate, Share, other security of the Trust, and every other act or thing
whatsoever executed in connection with the Trust shall be conclusively taken to
have been executed or done by the executors thereof only in their capacity as
Trustees under this Declaration or in their capacity as officers, employees or
agents of the Trust. The Trustees may maintain insurance for the protection of
the Trust Property, the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees and agents
in such amount as the Trustees shall deem adequate to cover possible tort
liability, and such other insurance as the Trustees in their sole judgment shall
deem advisable or is required by the 1940 Act.
5.5 Reliance on Experts,
etc. Each Trustee and officer or employee of the Trust shall,
in the performance of its duties, be fully and completely justified and
protected with regard to any act or any failure to act resulting from reliance
in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the Trust, upon an
opinion of counsel, or upon reports made to the Trust by any of the Trust’s
officers or employees or by any advisor, administrator, manager, distributor,
selected dealer, accountant, appraiser or other expert or consultant selected
with reasonable care by the Trustees, officers or employees of the Trust,
regardless of whether such counsel or expert may also be a Trustee.
ARTICLE
6
SHARES OF BENEFICIAL
INTEREST
6.1 Beneficial
Interest. The interest of the shareholders shall be divided
into an unlimited number of transferable Shares of beneficial par value $.001
per share. All Shares issued in accordance with the terms hereof, including,
without limitation, Shares issued in connection with a dividend or distribution
in Shares or a split of Shares, shall be fully paid and, except as provided in
the last sentence of Section 3.8, non-assessable when the consideration
determined by the Trustees (if any) therefor shall have been received by the
Trust.
6.2 Other
Securities. The Trustees may, subject to the Fundamental
Policies and the requirements of the 1940 Act, authorize and issue such other
securities of the Trust as they determine to be necessary, desirable or
appropriate, having such terms, rights, preferences, privileges, limitations and
restrictions as the Trustees see fit, including preferred interests, debt
securities or other senior securities. The Trustees are also authorized to take
such actions and retain such persons as they see fit to offer and sell such
securities.
6.3 Rights of
Shareholders. The Shares shall be personal property giving
only the rights in this Declaration specifically set forth. The ownership of the
Trust Property of every description and the right to conduct any business
hereinbefore described are vested exclusively in the Trustees on behalf of the
Trust, and the Shareholders shall have no interest therein other than the
beneficial interest conferred by their Shares, and they shall have no right to
call for any partition or division of any property, profits, rights or interests
of the Trust nor can they be called upon to share or assume any losses of the
Trust or, subject to the right of the Trustees to charge certain expenses
directly to Shareholders, as provided in the last sentence of Section 3.8,
suffer an assessment of any kind by virtue of their ownership of Shares. The
Shares shall not entitle the holder to preference, preemptive, appraisal,
conversion or exchange rights.
12
6.4 Trust
Only. It is the intention of the Trustees to create only the
relationship of Trustee and beneficiary between the Trustees and each
Shareholder from time to time. It is not the intention of the Trustees to create
a general partnership, limited partnership, joint stock association,
corporation, bailment or any form of legal relationship other than a trust.
Nothing in this Declaration shall be construed to make the Shareholders, either
by themselves or with the Trustees, partners or members of a joint stock
association.
6.5 Issuance of
Shares. The Trustees, in their discretion, may from time to
time without vote of the Shareholders issue Shares in addition to the then
issued and outstanding Shares and Shares held in the treasury, to such party or
parties and for such amount and type of consideration, including cash or
property, at such time or times, and on such terms as the Trustees may
determine, and may in such manner acquire other assets (including the
acquisition of assets subject to, and in connection with the assumption of,
liabilities) and businesses. The Trustees may from time to time divide or
combine the Shares into a greater or lesser number without thereby changing the
proportionate beneficial interest in such Shares. Issuances and redemptions of
Shares may be made in whole Shares and/or 1/1,000ths of a Share or multiples
thereof as the Trustees may determine.
6.6 Register of
Shares. A register shall be kept at the offices of the Trust
or any transfer agent duly appointed by the Trustees under the direction of the
Trustees which shall contain the names and addresses of the Shareholders and the
number of Shares held by them respectively and a record of all transfers
thereof. Each such register shall be conclusive as to who are the holders of the
Shares and who shall be entitled to receive dividends or distributions or
otherwise to exercise or enjoy the rights of Shareholders. No Shareholder shall
be entitled to receive payment of any dividend or distribution, nor to have
notice given to him as herein provided, until he has given his address to a
transfer agent or such other officer or agent of the Trustees as shall keep the
register for entry thereon. It is not contemplated that certificates will be
issued for the Shares; however, the Trustees, in their discretion, may authorize
the issuance of share certificates and promulgate appropriate fees therefore and
rules and regulations as to their use.
6.7 Transfer Agent and
Registrar. The Trustees shall have power to employ a transfer
agent or transfer agents, and a registrar or registrars, with respect to the
Shares. The transfer agent or transfer agents may keep the applicable register
and record therein, the original issues and transfers, if any, of the said
Shares. Any such transfer agents and/or registrars shall perform the duties
usually performed by transfer agents and registrars of certificates of stock in
a corporation, as modified by the Trustees.
6.8 Transfer of
Shares. Shares shall be transferable on the records of the
Trust only in accordance with Section 9.1 herein and by the record holder
thereof or by its agent thereto duly authorized in writing, upon delivery to the
Trustees or a transfer agent of the Trust of a duly executed instrument of
transfer, together with such evidence of the genuineness of each such execution
and authorization and of other matters (including compliance with any securities
laws and contractual restrictions) as may reasonably be required. Upon such
delivery the transfer shall be recorded on the applicable register of the Trust.
Until such record is made, the Shareholder of record shall be deemed to be the
holder of such Shares for all purposes hereof and neither the Trustees nor any
transfer agent or registrar nor any officer, employee or agent of the Trust
shall be affected by any notice of the proposed transfer.
13
Any
person becoming entitled to any Shares in consequence of the death, bankruptcy,
or incompetence of any Shareholder, or otherwise by operation of law, shall be
recorded on the applicable register of Shares as the holder of such Shares upon
production of the proper evidence thereof to the Trustees or a transfer agent of
the Trust, but until such record is made, the Shareholder of record shall be
deemed to be the holder of such for all purposes hereof, and neither the
Trustees nor any transfer agent or registrar nor any officer or agent of the
Trust shall be affected by any notice of such death, bankruptcy or incompetence,
or other operation of law.
6.9 Notices. Any
and all notices to which any Shareholder hereunder may be entitled and any and
all communications shall be deemed duly served or given if mailed, postage
prepaid, addressed to any Shareholder of record at his last known address as
recorded on the applicable register of the Trust.
ARTICLE
7
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET
VALUE
7.1 Net Asset
Value. The net asset value of each outstanding Share of the
Trust shall be determined at such time or times on such days as the Trustees may
determine, in accordance with the 1940 Act. The method of determination of net
asset value shall be determined by the Trustees. The power and duty to make the
net asset value calculations may be delegated by the Trustees.
7.2 Power to Modify Foregoing
Procedures. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions of
this Article VII, the Trustees may prescribe, in their absolute discretion
except as may be required by the 1940 Act, such other bases and times for
determining the net asset value of the Trust’s Shares or net income, or the
declaration and payment of dividends and distributions as they may deem
necessary or desirable for any reason, including to enable the Trust to comply
with any provision of the 1940 Act, or any securities exchange or association
registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or any order of exemption
issued by the Commission, all as in effect now or hereafter amended or
modified.
ARTICLE
8
CUSTODIANS
8.1 Appointment and
Duties. The Trustees shall at all times employ a custodian or
custodians, meeting the qualifications for custodians for portfolio securities
of investment companies contained in the 1940 Act, as custodian with respect to
the assets of the Trust. Any custodian shall have authority as agent of the
Trust as determined by the custodian agreement or agreements, but subject to
such restrictions, limitations and other requirements, if any, as may be
contained in the By-Laws of the Trust and the 1940 Act, including without
limitation authority:
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(a)
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to
hold the securities owned by the Trust and deliver the same upon written
order;
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14
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(b)
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to
receive any receipt for any moneys due to the Trust and deposit the same
in its own banking department (if a bank) or elsewhere as the Trustees may
direct;
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(c)
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to
disburse such funds upon orders or
vouchers;
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(d)
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if
authorized by the Trustees, to keep the books and accounts of the Trust
and furnish clerical and accounting services;
and
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(e)
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if
authorized to do so by the Trustees, to compute the net income or net
asset value of the Trust;
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all upon
such basis of compensation as may be agreed upon between the Trustees and the
custodian.
The
Trustees may also authorize each custodian to employ one or more sub-custodians
from time to time to perform such of the acts and services of the custodian and
upon such terms and conditions, as may be agreed upon between the custodian and
such sub-custodian and approved by the Trustees, provided that in every case
such sub-custodian shall meet the qualifications for custodians contained in the
1940 Act.
8.2 Central Certificate
System. Subject to such rules, regulations and orders as the
Commission may adopt, the Trustees may direct the custodian to deposit all or
any part of the securities owned by the Trust in a system for the central
handling of securities established by a national securities exchange or a
national securities association registered with the Commission under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or such other Person as may be permitted by the
Commission, or otherwise in accordance with the 1940 Act, pursuant to which
system all securities of any particular class of any issuer deposited within the
system are treated as fungible and may be transferred or pledged by bookkeeping
entry without physical delivery of such securities, provided that all such
deposits shall be subject to withdrawal only upon the order of the
Trust.
ARTICLE
9
TRANSFERS AND
REPURCHASES
9.1 Transfer of
Shares.
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(a)
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Any
Shares held by a Shareholder may be Transferred only (1) by operation
of law pursuant to the death, bankruptcy, insolvency, adjudicated
incompetence, or dissolution of the Shareholder or (2) under certain
limited instances set out in this Declaration, with the consent of the
Trustees (which may be withheld in the Trustees’ sole and absolute
discretion). If a Shareholder Transfers Shares with the approval of the
Trustees, the Trustees will promptly take all necessary actions so that
each transferee or successor to whom or to which the Shares are
Transferred is admitted to the Trust as a Shareholder. The admission of
any transferee as a substituted Shareholder will be effective upon the
execution and delivery by, or on behalf of, the substituted Shareholder of
an Investor Certification Form. Each Shareholder and transferee agrees to
pay all expenses, including attorneys’ and accountants’ fees, incurred by
the Trust in connection with any Transfer. In connection with any request
to Transfer Shares, the Trust may require the Shareholder requesting the
Transfer to obtain, at the Shareholder’s expense, an opinion of counsel
selected by the Trustees as to such matters as the Trustees may reasonably
request. If a Shareholder Transfers all of its Shares, it will not cease
to be a Shareholder unless and until the transferee is admitted to the
Trust as a substituted Shareholder in accordance with this
Section 9.1(a). Any Transfer of Shares permitted under this
Section 9.1(a) will be effected in accordance with the provisions of
Section 6.8 hereof. Pursuant to Section 3.6 hereof, the Trustees
hereby delegate to the officers of the Trust all power and authority to
approve and effect Transfers of Shares pursuant to this
Section 9.1(a).
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15
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(b)
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Each
Shareholder will indemnify and hold harmless the Trust, the Trustees, each
other Shareholder and any Affiliate of the Trust, the Trustees, the
Special Shareholder and each of the other Shareholders against all losses,
claims, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including legal or other
expenses incurred in investigating or defending against any losses,
claims, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses or any judgments, fines
and amounts paid in settlement), joint or several, to which these Persons
may become subject by reason of or arising from (1) any Transfer made
by the Shareholder in violation of this Section 9.1 and (2) any
misrepresentation by the Transferring Shareholder or substituted
Shareholder in connection with the Transfer. Pursuant to Section 3.8
hereof, a Shareholder Transferring Shares may be charged reasonable
expenses, including attorneys’ and accountants’ fees, incurred by the
Trust in connection with the
Transfer.
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9.2 Repurchase of
Shares.
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(a)
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Except
as otherwise provided in this Declaration, no Shareholder or other Person
holding Shares will have the right to withdraw or tender Shares to the
Trust for repurchase. The Trustees may, from time to time, in their
complete and exclusive discretion and on terms and conditions as they may
determine, cause the Trust to repurchase Shares in accordance with written
tenders. In determining whether to cause the Trust to repurchase Shares,
pursuant to written tenders, the Trustees will consider the following
factors, among others:
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(1) whether
any Shareholders have requested to tender Shares;
(2) the
liquidity of the Trust’s assets (including fees and costs associated with
withdrawing from Investment Funds (as defined in the Trust’s prospectus) and/or
disposing of assets managed by Subadvisers) (as defined in the Trust’s
prospectus);
(3) the
investment plans and working capital and reserve requirements of the
Trust;
(4) the
relative economies of scale with respect to the size of the Trust;
(5) the
history of the Trust in repurchasing Shares;
16
(6) the
availability of information as to the value of the Trust’s interests in the
Investment Funds;
(7) existing
conditions of the securities markets and the economy generally, as well as
political, national or international developments or current
affairs;
(8) the
anticipated tax consequences to the Trust of any proposed repurchases of Shares;
and
(9) the
recommendations of the Trustees and/or the Adviser.
The
Trustees will cause the Trust to repurchase Shares in accordance with written
tenders only on terms fair to the Trust and to all Shareholders.
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(b)
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The
Trustees may cause the Trust to repurchase Shares of a Shareholder or any
Person acquiring Shares from or through a Shareholder, on terms fair to
the Trust and to the Shareholder or Person acquiring Shares from or
through such Shareholder, in the event that the Trustees, in their sole
discretion, determine or have reason to believe
that:
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(1) the
Shares have been Transferred in violation of Section 9.1 of this
Declaration, or the Shares have vested in any Person other than by operation of
law as the result of the death, dissolution, bankruptcy, insolvency or
adjudicated incompetence of the Shareholder;
(2) ownership
of the Shares by a Shareholder or other Person is likely to cause the Trust
to be in violation of, or require registration of any Shares under, or subject
the Trust to additional registration or regulation under, the securities,
commodities or other laws of the United States or any other relevant
jurisdiction;
(3) continued
ownership of the Shares may be harmful or injurious to the business or
reputation of the Trust, the Trustees or the Adviser or any of their Affiliated
Persons, or may subject the Trust or any of the Shareholders to an undue risk of
adverse tax or other fiscal or regulatory consequences;
(4) any
of the representations and warranties made by a Shareholder or other Person in
connection with the acquisition of the Shares was not true when made or has
ceased to be true;
(5) with
respect to a Shareholder subject to special regulatory or compliance
requirements, such as those imposed by the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974, as amended, the Bank Holding Company Act or certain Federal
Communication Commission regulations (collectively, “Special Laws or
Regulations”), such Shareholder will likely be subject to additional regulatory
or compliance requirements under these Special Laws or Regulations by virtue of
continuing to hold Shares; or
17
(6) it
would be in the best interests of the Trust, as determined by the Trustees, for
the Trust to repurchase the Shares.
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(c)
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Repurchases
of Shares by the Trust will be payable promptly after the date of each
repurchase or, in the case of an offer by the Trust to repurchase Shares,
promptly after the expiration date of the repurchase offer in accordance
with the terms of the repurchase offer. Payment of the purchase price for
Shares will consist of: (1) cash or a promissory note, which will be
non-transferable and need not bear interest, in an amount equal to the
percentage, as may be determined by the Trustees, of the estimated
unaudited net asset value of the Shares repurchased by the Trust
determined as of the date of the repurchase (the “Initial Payment”); and
(2) if determined to be appropriate by the Trustees or if the Initial
Payment is less than 100% of the estimated unaudited net asset value, a
promissory note, which may or may not be incorporated into the note
applicable to the Initial Payment, entitling its holder to a contingent
payment (the “Post-Audit Payment”) equal to the excess, if any, of
(A) the net asset value of the Shares repurchased by the Trust as of
the date of the repurchase, determined based on the audited financial
statements of the Trust for the Fiscal Year in which the repurchase was
effective, over (B) the Initial Payment. Any obligation under such a
promissory note with respect to the Initial Payment will be due and
payable not more than 30 days after the date of repurchase or, if the
Trust has requested withdrawal of its capital from any Investment Funds in
funding the repurchase of Shares, ten Business Days after the Trust has
received at least 90% of the aggregate amount withdrawn by the Trust from
the Investment Funds. Any obligation under such a promissory note with
respect to the Post-Audit Payment will be due and payable promptly
following the preparation of the applicable audited financial statements.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 9.2(c), the
Trustees, in their discretion, may cause the Trust to pay all or any
portion of the repurchase price in Securities in kind (or any combination
of Securities in kind and cash) having a value, determined as of the date
of repurchase, equal to the amount to be repurchased. All repurchases of
Shares will be subject to any and all conditions as the Trustees may
impose in their sole discretion. The Trustees may, in their discretion,
cause the Trust to repurchase all of a Shareholder’s Shares, if the net
asset value of the Shareholder’s Shares, as a result of repurchase or
Transfer requests by the Shareholder, is less than $100,000 or such other
minimum amount established by the Trustees from time to time in their sole
discretion. Subject to the procedures of this Section 9.2(c), the
amount due to any Shareholder whose Shares are repurchased will be equal
to the net asset value of the Shareholder’s Shares, as of the effective
date of repurchase. If all of a Shareholder’s Shares are repurchased, that
Shareholder will cease to be a
Shareholder.
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18
ARTICLE
10
SHAREHOLDERS
10.1 Meetings of
Shareholders. The Trust will not hold annual Shareholder
meetings unless required by the 1940 Act, the provisions of this
Declaration, the By-Laws or any other applicable law. A Special Meeting of
Shareholders may be called at any time by a majority of the Trustees or the
President and shall be called by any Trustee for any proper purpose upon written
request of Shareholders of the Trust holding in the aggregate at least a
majority of the outstanding Shares of the Trust, such request specifying the
purpose or purposes for which such meeting is to be called. Any shareholder
meeting, including a Special Meeting, shall be held within or without the State
of Delaware on such day and at such time as the Trustees hall
designate.
10.2 Voting. Shareholders
shall have no power to vote on any matter except matters on which a vote of
Shareholders is required by applicable law, this Declaration or resolution of
the Trustees. There shall be no cumulative voting in the election or removal of
Trustees.
10.3 Notice of Meeting and Record
Date. Notice of all meetings of Shareholders, stating the
time, place and purposes of the meeting, shall be given by the Trustees by mail
to each Shareholder of record entitled to vote thereat at its registered
address, mailed at least 10 days and not more than 90 days before the meeting or
otherwise in compliance with applicable law. Only the business stated in the
notice of the meeting shall be considered at such meeting. Any adjourned meeting
may be held as adjourned one or more times without further notice not later than
120 days after the record date. For the purposes of determining the Shareholders
who are entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting the Trustees may,
without closing the transfer books, fix a date not more than 90 nor less than 10
days prior to the date of such meeting of Shareholders as a record date for the
determination of the Persons to be treated as Shareholders of record for such
purposes.
10.4 Quorum and Required
Vote.
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(a)
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The
holders of one-third (1/3) or more of the Shares entitled to vote on any
matter at a meeting present in person or by proxy shall constitute a
quorum at such meeting of the Shareholders for purposes of conducting
business on such matter. The absence from any meeting, in person or by
proxy, of a quorum of Shareholders for action upon any given matter shall
not prevent action at such meeting upon any other matter or matters which
may properly come before the meeting, if there shall be present thereat,
in person or by proxy, a quorum of Shareholders in respect of such other
matters.
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(b)
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Subject
to any provision of applicable law, this Declaration or a resolution of
the Trustees specifying a greater or a lesser vote requirement for the
transaction of any item of business at any meeting of Shareholders, the
affirmative vote of a majority of the Shares present in person or
represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall be
the act of the Shareholders with respect to such
matter.
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10.5 Proxies,
etc. At any meeting of Shareholders, any holder of Shares
entitled to vote thereat may vote by properly executed proxy, provided that no
proxy shall be voted at any meeting unless it shall have been placed on file
with the Secretary, or with such other officer or agent of the Trust as the
Secretary may direct, for verification prior to the time at which such vote
shall be taken. Pursuant to a resolution of a majority of the Trustees, proxies
may be solicited in the name of one or more Trustees or one or more of the
officers or employees of the Trust. No proxy shall be valid after the expiration
of 11 months from the date thereof, unless otherwise provided in the proxy.
Only Shareholders of record shall be entitled to vote. Each full Share shall be
entitled to one vote and fractional Shares shall be entitled to a vote of such
fraction. When any Share is held jointly by several persons, any one of them may
vote at any meeting in person or by proxy in respect of such Share, but if more
than one of them shall be present at such meeting in person or by proxy, and
such joint owners or their proxies so present disagree as to any vote to be
cast, such vote shall not be received in respect of such Share. A proxy
purporting to be executed by or on behalf of a Shareholder shall be deemed valid
unless challenged at or prior to its exercise, and the burden of proving
invalidity shall rest on the challenger. If the holder of any such Share is a
minor or a person of unsound mind, and subject to guardianship or to the legal
control of any other person as regards the charge or management of such Share,
he may vote by his guardian or such other person appointed or having such
control, and such vote may be given in person or by proxy.
10.6 Inspection of
Records. The records of the Trust shall be open to inspection
by Shareholders to the same extent as is permitted shareholders of a corporation
formed under the Delaware General Corporation Law.
10.7 Shareholder Action by
Written Consent. Any action which may be taken by Shareholders
by vote may be taken without a meeting if the holders, entitled to vote thereon,
of the proportion of Shares required for approval of such action at a meeting of
Shareholders pursuant to Section 10.4 consent to the action in writing and
the written consents are filed with the records of the meetings of Shareholders.
Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as a vote taken at a meeting of
Shareholders.
ARTICLE
11
DURATION; TERMINATION OF
TRUST; AMENDMENT; MERGERS; ETC.
11.1 Duration. Subject
to possible termination in accordance with the provisions of Section 12.2
hereof, the Trust created hereby shall have perpetual existence.
11.2 Termination.
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(a)
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The
Trust may be dissolved, only upon approval of not less than 80% of the
Trustees. Upon the dissolution of the
Trust:
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(1) The
Trust shall carry on no business except for the purpose of winding up its
affairs.
(2) The
Trustees shall proceed to wind up the affairs of the Trust and all of the powers
of the Trustees under this Declaration shall continue until the affairs of the
Trust shall have been wound up, including the power to fulfill or discharge the
contracts of the Trust, collect its assets, sell, convey, assign, exchange,
merge where the Trust is not the survivor, transfer or otherwise dispose of all
or any part of the remaining Trust Property to one or more Persons at public or
private sale for consideration which may consist in whole or in part in cash,
securities or other property of any kind, discharge or pay its liabilities, and
do all other acts appropriate to liquidate its business; provided that any sale,
conveyance, assignment, exchange, merger in which the Trust is not the survivor,
transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all the Trust Property of
the Trust shall require approval of the principal terms of the transaction and
the nature and amount of the consideration by Shareholders.
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(3) After
paying or adequately providing for the payment of all liabilities, and upon
receipt of such releases, indemnities and refunding agreements, as they deem
necessary for their protection, the Trustees may distribute the remaining Trust
Property, in cash or in kind or partly each, among the Shareholders according to
their respective rights.
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(b)
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After
the winding up and termination of the Trust and distribution to the
Shareholders as herein provided, a majority of the Trustees shall execute
and lodge among the records of the Trust an instrument in writing setting
forth the fact of such termination and shall execute and file a
certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware. Upon termination of the Trust, the Trustees shall thereupon be
discharged from all further liabilities and duties hereunder, and the
rights and interests of all Shareholders shall thereupon
cease.
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11.3 Amendment Procedure.
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(a)
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Except
as provided in subsection (b) of this Section 11.3, this
Declaration may be amended, after a majority of the Trustees (including a
majority of the independent Trustees if such a vote is required under the
0000 Xxx) have approved a resolution therefor, by the affirmative vote
required by Section 10.4 of this Declaration. The Trustees also may
amend this Declaration without any vote of Shareholders to change the name
of the Trust, to change the U.S. federal income tax classification of the
Trust from an association taxable as a corporation to a partnership if the
Trust elects to cease qualifying as a regulated investment company under
Subchapter M of the Code, to make any other change that does not adversely
affect the relative rights or preferences of any Shareholder, as they may
deem necessary, or to conform this Declaration to the requirements of the
1940 Act or any other applicable federal laws or regulations including
pursuant to Section 6.2 or, if applicable, the requirements of the
regulated investment company provisions of the Code, but the Trustees
shall not be liable for failing to do
so.
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(b)
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No
amendment may be made to Section 2.1, Section 2.2,
Section 2.3, Section 3.9, Section 5.1, Section 5.2,
Section 11.2(a), this Section 11.3, Section 11.4 or
Section 11.6 of this Declaration and no amendment may be made to this
Declaration which would change any rights with respect to any Shares of
the Trust by reducing the amount payable thereon upon liquidation of the
Trust or by diminishing or eliminating any voting rights pertaining
thereto (except that this provision shall not limit the ability of the
Trustees to authorize, and to cause the Trust to issue, other securities
pursuant to Section 6.2), except after a majority of the Trustees
have approved a resolution therefor, and such amendment has been approved
by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than seventy-five
percent (75%) of the Shares, unless such amendment has been approved
by 80% of the Trustees, in which case approval by a Majority Shareholder
Vote shall be required. Nothing contained in this Declaration shall permit
the amendment of this Declaration to impair the exemption from personal
liability of the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees and agents of
the Trust or to permit assessments upon
Shareholders.
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21
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(c)
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An
amendment duly adopted by the requisite vote of the Board of Trustees and,
if required under the 1940 Act or otherwise under this Declaration, the
Shareholders as aforesaid, shall become effective at the time of such
adoption or at such other time as may be designated by the Board of
Trustees or Shareholders, as the case may be. A certification in
recordable form signed by a majority of the Trustees setting forth an
amendment and reciting that it was duly adopted by the Trustees and, if
required, the Shareholders as aforesaid, or a copy of the Declaration, as
amended, in recordable form, and executed by a majority of the Trustees,
shall be conclusive evidence of such amendment when lodged among the
records of the Trust or at such other time designated by the
Board.
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11.4 Merger, Consolidation and
Sale of Assets. Except as provided in Section 11.6, the
Trust may merge or consolidate with any other corporation, association, trust or
other organization or may sell, lease or exchange all or substantially all of
the Trust Property or the property, including its goodwill, upon such terms and
conditions and for such consideration when and as authorized by two-thirds of
the Trustees and approved by a Majority Shareholder Vote and any such merger,
consolidation, sale, lease or exchange shall be determined for all purposes to
have been accomplished under and pursuant to the statutes of the State of
Delaware.
11.5 Subsidiaries. Without
approval by Shareholders, the Trustees may cause to be organized or assist in
organizing one or more corporations, trusts, limited liability companies,
partnerships, associations or other organizations to take over all of the Trust
Property or to carry on any business in which the Trust shall directly or
indirectly have any interest, and to sell, convey and transfer all or a portion
of the Trust Property to any such corporation, trust, limited liability company,
association or organization in exchange for the shares or securities thereof, or
otherwise, and to lend money to, subscribe for the shares or securities of, and
enter into any contracts with any such corporation, trust, limited liability
company, partnership, association or organization, or any corporation,
partnership, trust, limited liability company, association or organization in
which the Trust holds or is about to acquire shares or any other
interests.
11.6 Certain Transactions.
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(a)
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Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Declaration and subject to the exceptions
provided in paragraph (d) of this Section, the types of transactions
described in paragraph (c) of this Section shall require the
affirmative vote or consent of a majority of the Trustees then in office
followed by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than
seventy-five percent (75%) of the Shares outstanding, excluding the
Shares of a Principal Shareholder (as defined in paragraph (b) of
this Section) when any such Principal Shareholder is a party to the
transaction. Such affirmative vote or consent shall be in addition to the
vote or consent of the holders of Shares otherwise required by
1aw.
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(b)
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The term “Principal Shareholder”
shall mean any corporation, Person or other entity which is the beneficial
owner, directly or indirectly, of five percent (5%) or more of the
outstanding Shares of all outstanding classes or series and shall include
any affiliate or associate, as such terms are defined in clause
(ii) below, of a Principal Shareholder. For the purposes of this
Section, in addition to the Shares which a corporation, Person or other
entity beneficially owns directly, (a) any corporation, Person or
other entity shall be deemed to be the beneficial owner of any Shares
(i) which it has the right to acquire pursuant to any agreement or
upon exercise of conversion rights or warrants, or otherwise (but
excluding share options granted by the Trust) or (ii) which are
beneficially owned, directly or indirectly (including Shares deemed owned
through application of clause (i) above), by any other corporation,
Person or entity with which its “affiliate” or “associate” (as defined
below) has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of
acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of Shares, or which is its
“affiliate” or “associate” as those terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 of the
General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
and (b) the outstanding Shares shall include Shares deemed owned
through application of clauses (i) and (ii) above but shall not
include any other Shares which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement,
or upon exercise of conversion rights or warrants, or
otherwise.
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(c)
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This
Section shall apply to the following
transactions:
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(1) The
merger or consolidation of the Trust or any subsidiary of the Trust with or into
any Principal Shareholder.
(2) The
issuance of any securities of the Trust to any Principal Shareholder for cash
(other than pursuant to any automatic dividend reinvestment plan).
(3) The
sale, lease or exchange of all or any substantial part of the assets of the
Trust to any Principal Shareholder (except assets having an aggregate fair
market value of less than 2% of the total assets of the Trust, aggregating for
the purpose of such computation all assets sold, leased or exchanged in any
series of similar transactions within a twelve-month period.)
(4) The
sale, lease or exchange to the Trust or any subsidiary thereof, in exchange for
securities of the Trust, of any assets of any Principal Shareholder (except
assets having an aggregate fair market value of less than 2% of the total assets
of the Trust, aggregating for the purposes of such computation all assets sold,
leased or exchanged in any series of similar transactions within a twelve-month
period).
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(d)
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The
provisions of this Section shall not be applicable to (i) any of the
transactions described in paragraph (c) of this Section if 80% of the
Trustees shall by resolution have approved a memorandum of understanding
with such Principal Shareholder with respect to and substantially
consistent with such transaction, in which case approval by a Majority
Shareholder Vote shall be the only vote of Shareholders required by this
Section, or (ii) any such transaction with any entity of which a
majority of the outstanding shares of all classes and series of a stock
normally entitled to vote in elections of directors is owned of record or
beneficially by the Trust and its
subsidiaries.
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23
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(e)
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The
Board of Trustees shall have the power and duty to determine for the
purposes of this Section on the basis of information known to the Trust
whether (i) a corporation, person or entity beneficially owns five
percent (5%) or more of the outstanding Shares of any class or
series, (ii) a corporation, person or entity is an “affiliate” or
“associate” (as defined above) of another, (iii) the assets being
acquired or leased to or by the Trust or any subsidiary thereof constitute
a substantial part of the assets of the Trust and have an aggregate fair
market value of less than 2% of the total assets of the Trust, and
(iv) the memorandum of understanding referred to in paragraph
(d) hereof is substantially consistent with the transaction covered
thereby. Any such determination shall be conclusive and binding for all
purposes of this Section.
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ARTICLE
12
MISCELLANEOUS
12.1 Filing.
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(a)
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This
Declaration and any amendment or supplement hereto shall be filed in such
places as may be required or as the Trustees deem appropriate. Each
amendment or supplement shall be accompanied by a certificate signed and
acknowledged by a Trustee stating that such action was duly taken in a
manner provided herein and shall, upon insertion in the Trust’s minute
book, be conclusive evidence of all amendments contained therein. A
restated Declaration, containing the original Declaration and all
amendments and supplements theretofore made, may be executed from time to
time by a majority of the Trustees and shall, upon insertion in the
Trust’s minute book, be conclusive evidence of all amendments and
supplements contained therein and may thereafter be referred to in lieu of
the original Declaration and the various amendments and supplements
thereto.
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(b)
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The
Trustees hereby authorize and direct a Certificate of Trust, in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit A, to be executed and filed with the Office of
the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the
Delaware Statutory Trust Statute.
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12.2 Resident
Agent. The Trust shall maintain a resident agent in the State
of Delaware, which agent shall initially be Corporation Service Company, 0000
Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000. The Trustees may
designate a successor resident agent, provided, however, that such appointment
shall not become effective until written notice thereof and any required filing
is delivered to the office of the Secretary of the State.
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12.3 Governing
Law. This Declaration is executed by the Trustees and
delivered in the State of Delaware and with reference to the laws thereof, and
the rights of all parties and the validity and construction of every provision
hereof shall be subject to and construed according to laws of said State, and
reference shall be specifically made to the Delaware General Corporation Law as
to the construction of matters not specifically covered herein or as to which an
ambiguity exists, although such law shall not be viewed as limiting the powers
otherwise granted to the Trustees hereunder and any ambiguity shall be viewed in
favor of such powers.
12.4 Counterparts. This
Declaration may be simultaneously executed in several counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original, and such counterparts, together, shall
constitute one and the same instrument, which shall be sufficiently evidenced by
any such original counterpart.
12.5 Reliance by Third
Parties. Any certificate executed by an individual who,
according to the records of the Trust, or of any recording office in which this
Declaration may be recorded, appears to be a Trustee hereunder, certifying to:
(a) the number or identity of Trustees or Shareholders, (b) the name
of the Trust, (c) the due authorization of the execution of any instrument
or writing, (d) the form of any vote passed at a meeting of Trustees or
Shareholders, (e) the fact that the number of Trustees or Shareholders
present at any meeting or executing any written instrument satisfies the
requirements of this Declaration, (f) the form of any By-Laws adopted by or
the identity of any officers elected by the Trustees, or (g) the existence
of any fact or facts which in any manner relate to the affairs of the Trust,
shall be conclusive evidence as to the matters so certified in favor of any
person dealing with the Trustees and their successors.
12.6 Provisions in Conflict with
Law or Regulation.
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(a)
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The
provisions of this Declaration are severable, and if the Trustees shall
determine, with the advice of counsel, that any of such provisions is in
conflict with the 1940 Act, if applicable, the regulated investment
company provisions of the Code (if applicable) or with other applicable
laws and regulations, the conflicting provision shall be deemed never to
have constituted a part of this Declaration; provided, however, that such
determination shall not affect any of the remaining provisions of this
Declaration or render invalid or improper any action taken or omitted
prior to such determination.
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(b)
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If
any provision of this Declaration shall be held invalid or unenforceable
in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall attach only
to such provision in such jurisdiction and shall not in any manner affect
such provision in any other jurisdiction or any other provision of this
Declaration in any jurisdiction.
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25
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused these presents to be executed as of
the day and year first above written.
By:
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/s/
Xxxx X. Xxxxx
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Xxxx
X. Xxxxx
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Trustee
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